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Exercise Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does an Exercise Specialist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Exercise Specialist in the United States is $50,749 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.

However, an Exercise Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $62,279
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $44,961 to $56,784
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $39,691
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Exercise Specialist Salaries

An Exercise Specialist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Exercise Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Exercise Specialist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $48,848
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $49,021
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $51,199
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $53,721
  • Expert (over 8 years): $53,902
Levels Salary
Entry Level Exercise Specialist$48,848
Intermediate Level Exercise Specialist$49,021
Senior Level Exercise Specialist$51,199
Specialist Level Exercise Specialist$53,721
Expert Level Exercise Specialist$53,902
View as Graph

How Do Exercise Specialist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Exercise Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $56,189.
  • California: $55,976.
  • Massachusetts: $55,230.

Top Paying Cities for Exercise Specialists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $64,010
  • San Francisco: $63,309
  • Oakland: $61,975

What Skills Can Increase an Exercise Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Cardiac (Mentioned in 4.91% Job Postings): Cardiac means relating to the heart. The adjective cardiac is most often used in a medical context: a doctor who operates on people's hearts is a cardiac surgeon and an irregular heart beat is called "cardiac arrhythmia."
  • Exercise Physiology (Mentioned in 2.99% Job Postings): Exercise physiology is the physiology of physical exercise. It is one of the allied health professions that involves the study of the acute responses and chronic adaptations to exercise. Understanding the effect of exercise involves studying specific changes in muscular, cardiovascular, and neurohumoral systems that lead to changes in functional capacity and strength due to endurance training or strength training. The effect of training on the body has been defined as the reaction to the adaptive responses of the body arising from exercise or as "an elevation of metabolism produced by exercise". Exercise physiologists study the effect of exercise on pathology, and the mechanisms by which exercise can reduce or reverse disease progression.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6%
Cardiac 4.91%
Exercise Physiology 2.99%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Exercise Specialist's salary.

  • Alignment: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Pediatric: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Alignment $56,839
12%
Innovation $56,331
11%
Pediatric $55,316
9%
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Exercise Specialist Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Exercise Specialist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $53,864. While startup companies pay approximate $45,870.

Exercise Specialist Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $45,870
Growth Stage 51~500 $48,434
Established 501~5000 $52,091
Enterprise 5000+ $53,864

Exercise Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Exercise Specialist roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Exercise Specialist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Exercise Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Exercise Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$60,899$29.020%

How Education impacts an Exercise Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Exercise Specialist enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Exercise Specialist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $51,098 and $54,121.

Exercise Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Exercise Specialist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 7.5%
High School 7.5%
Associates 2.7%
Bachelors 63.2%
Masters 26.0%
Doctorate 0.6%
View as Graph

Exercise Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Exercise Specialist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$44,961
Average $50,749/year
$56,784
$3,747
Average $4,229/month
$4,732
$865
Average $976/week
$1,092
$22
Average $24/hour
$27
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $56,784 $4,732 $1,092 $27
Average $50,749 $4,229 $976 $24
25th Percentile $44,961 $3,747 $865 $22

Exercise Specialist Salary Growth & Career Path

Exercise Specialist

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Exercise Specialist, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Exercise Physiologist $67,482 33%
Physical Therapist III $122,469 141%

Most common benefits for Exercise Specialist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Exercise Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Exercise Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Exercise Specialist

1. Where can an Exercise Specialist earn the most?

An Exercise Specialist's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an Exercise Specialist earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Exercise Specialist is $64,010.

2. What is the highest pay for Exercise Specialist?

The highest pay for Exercise Specialist is $62,279.

3. What is the lowest pay for Exercise Specialist?

The lowest pay for Exercise Specialist is $39,691.

4. What are the responsibilities of Exercise Specialist?

Identifies risk factors and designs specialized strength and conditioning programs for patients. Teaches patients proper exercise techniques. Educates patient and family members on proper techniques for transitioning from a hospital-based fitness program to a safe and effective home exercise program. Typically requires a bachelor's degree in exercise science. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2 -4 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Exercise Specialist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Exercise Specialist roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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